Table of Contents
Background and Context
Psalm 78 is a “Maskil of Asaph,” a psalm of instruction. At 72 verses, it is the second-longest psalm in the Bible and functions as an epic historical sermon in poetic form. Asaph, a prominent worship leader, takes on the role of a teacher, recounting the history of Israel from the Exodus to the establishment of King David’s reign in Jerusalem.
The psalm’s explicit purpose, stated clearly in the opening verses, is to teach the younger generation the lessons of the past. By recounting the glorious deeds and miracles of the Lord alongside the persistent rebellion and unbelief of their ancestors, Asaph hopes to inspire the new generation to set their hope in God, obey His commands, and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
The historical narrative is not merely a chronicle of events; it is a carefully constructed theological argument. It explains why God, after the period of the judges, rejected the northern tribes, particularly Ephraim and the sanctuary at Shiloh, and sovereignly chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion as His dwelling place, and David as His shepherd-king. It is a story of God’s unwavering grace in the face of humanity’s stubborn faithlessness.
Theological Themes
This sweeping historical psalm is built on a powerful contrast between divine faithfulness and human failure.
Intergenerational Transmission of Faith: The psalm is framed as a solemn duty to pass on the truth to the next generation. The goal is that they might “put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands” (verse 7). It establishes a clear biblical model for teaching history with a theological purpose, ensuring that the lessons of the past inform the faith of the present.
The Stubbornness of Human Unbelief: Asaph does not romanticize Israel’s past. The core of the psalm is a brutally honest catalog of the nation’s repeated failures: they were a “stubborn and rebellious generation” with hearts that were not loyal and spirits that were not faithful (verse 8). They continually forgot God’s miracles, tested His patience, grumbled against His provision, and turned to idols. This serves as a sober warning about the persistent nature of sin.
The Longsuffering and Compassionate Grace of God: In stark contrast to Israel’s rebellion stands God’s incredible patience and mercy. Even in the face of their sin, “he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger” (verse 38). He remembered their human frailty and continued to lead and provide for them. The entire history is a testament to God’s longsuffering grace.
God’s Sovereign Choice: The psalm culminates in a series of God’s sovereign choices. The historical narrative builds to a climax to explain why God made a new beginning after the failures during the period of the judges. He rejected the tribe of Ephraim and the sanctuary at Shiloh, and He chose the tribe of Judah, chose Mount Zion, and chose David his servant. This affirms God’s absolute freedom and authority to carry out His redemptive plan as He sees fit.
Literary Structure and Genre
Psalm 78 is a historical psalm written as a Maskil (a wisdom or teaching poem). Its structure follows the chronological flow of Israel’s history.
- Verses 1-8: The Introduction: A call to listen and a statement of the psalm’s purpose—to teach the next generation.
- Verses 9-41: The Wilderness Experience: A detailed account of the Exodus generation’s cycle of witnessing miracles, rebelling, facing judgment, and receiving mercy.
- Verses 42-64: From the Conquest to Catastrophe: A recounting of the plagues of Egypt, the entry into Canaan, the people’s slide into idolatry, and God’s judgment in abandoning the sanctuary at Shiloh.
- Verses 65-72: The New Beginning: God’s sovereign choice of Judah, Zion, and David to lead and shepherd His people.
Verse by Verse Commentary on Psalm 78
Verses 1-8: A Call to Learn from the Past
“My people, hear my teaching… I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old—things we have heard and known… We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done… so the next generation would know them… and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God.”
The psalm begins with a formal call to attention, like a teacher addressing his students. Asaph is about to tell a story that is more than just history; it is a “parable” full of “hidden things” or lessons. The explicit purpose is intergenerational teaching. The story of God’s deeds must be passed on, so that future generations will learn to trust and obey God and not be like their stubborn ancestors.
Verses 9-41: The Cycle of Rebellion in the Wilderness
“The men of Ephraim… turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant… They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them… But they continued to sin against him, rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness… They spoke against God; they said, ‘Can God really spread a table in the wilderness?’… Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.”
Asaph begins the historical review by highlighting the failure of Ephraim, the leading tribe of the northern kingdom, setting the stage for God’s later rejection of them. He then launches into the story of the wilderness generation. It is a repeating cycle:
- God’s Miracles: He split the Red Sea, guided them with a cloud and fire, and gave them water from a rock.
- Israel’s Rebellion: Despite these wonders, they forgot, tested God by demanding food for their cravings, and spoke against Him.
- God’s Judgment: God’s anger was aroused, and He sent fire and plague among them.
- Israel’s False Repentance: When facing death, they would seem to turn back to God, but their hearts were not sincere.
- God’s Mercy: Despite their insincerity, God, in His great compassion, repeatedly restrained His anger and forgave them, remembering that they were merely human.
Verses 42-64: Idolatry in the Land and the Fall of Shiloh
“They did not remember his power… the signs he performed in Egypt… But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High… they turned away and were faithless… They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols. When God heard them, he was furious; he rejected Israel completely. He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among humans. He sent the ark of his might into c1aptivity.”
Asaph now argues that the next generations repeated the same sins. They forgot the power God displayed in the plagues against Egypt. After God brought them into the promised land, they again tested God and turned to the idolatry of the surrounding nations, building “high places” for pagan worship.
This unfaithfulness provoked God’s fury and led to a national catastrophe. God “rejected Israel completely” by abandoning His own dwelling place, the tabernacle at Shiloh. This refers to the events in 1 Samuel 4, when the Philistines defeated Israel and captured the Ark of the Covenant, the very symbol of God’s presence. This was a devastating theological blow, showing that God would not tolerate persistent idolatry, even in His own sanctuary.
Verses 65-72: God’s New Beginning with Zion and David
“Then the Lord awoke as from sleep… He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved… And he chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens… to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”
After the disaster at Shiloh, God “awoke” as if He were a warrior rising to action. He initiated a new plan. He decisively rejected the northern tribes (represented by Joseph and Ephraim, the location of Shiloh) as the center of His kingdom.
Instead, He made a new, sovereign choice. He chose the southern tribe of Judah. He chose a new mountain, Mount Zion in Jerusalem, as the place He “loved.” And He chose a new leader, David his servant. God took David from the humble task of shepherding sheep and gave him the task of shepherding His people, Israel. The psalm concludes on a positive note, praising David for leading the nation with a heart of integrity and with skillful hands. The long, sad history of failure has culminated in God’s gracious provision of a true shepherd-king.
Practical Lessons for Today
Learn from the Past: Psalm 78 is a powerful reminder that we must learn from the mistakes of those who came before us. By honestly studying the failures recorded in Scripture, we can be warned against the dangers of unbelief, forgetfulness, and disobedience in our own lives.
Teach the Next Generation: The duty to pass on the faith is not optional. We have a solemn responsibility to tell our children and grandchildren about the “praiseworthy deeds of the LORD.” This involves not just telling the stories, but explaining the lessons within them, so that their hope will be in God.
Marvel at God’s Amazing Grace: The story of Israel is a story of epic failure. But even more, it is a story of God’s epic grace. His compassion, patience, and forgiveness shine brightest against the dark backdrop of human sin. This should give us profound comfort and security, knowing that His grace is greater than all our sin.
Trust God’s Sovereign Plan: The story did not end in failure at Shiloh. God was not thwarted by Israel’s rebellion. He sovereignly initiated a new phase of His plan by choosing Zion and David, which ultimately led to the coming of Jesus, the true Son of David. We can have confidence that even in times of apparent failure and judgment, God is always working to accomplish His ultimate redemptive purposes.
Cross References
Deuteronomy 6:7: “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” This verse from the Shema is the foundational command for the intergenerational teaching that Psalm 78 is putting into practice.
1 Corinthians 10:6, 11: “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did… These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.” The Apostle Paul uses the same wilderness stories as Asaph, and for the same reason: to warn the New Testament church not to repeat Israel’s sins of grumbling, idolatry, and testing God.
1 Samuel 4: This chapter provides the historical account of the battle where the Ark of God was captured by the Philistines and the glory departed from the sanctuary at Shiloh, the devastating judgment that is recounted in Psalm 78:60-64.
2 Samuel 7:8, 16: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel’… ‘Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'” This is the Davidic Covenant, which represents the culmination of the history in Psalm 78. God’s choice of David the shepherd leads to the promise of an eternal King.